"Frustrated by the Bush administration's refusal to ratify the Kyoto Treaty, 132 US mayors have pledged to enforce its regulations in their own cities.

The cities involved range from liberal centres such as Los Angeles, California, to strongholds of conservatism such as Hurst, in President Bush's home state of Texas. Between them they represent almost 29 million citizens spread across 35 different states".

See full story here.

Less noticed in the US and elsewhere will be intiatives in poor countries like Bangladesh. Today, openDemocracy publishes an inspiring story from the capital of this so-called "basket case" country by Saleemul Huq and Ijaz Hossain.

The article throws into doubt the popular shibboleth that you have to be rich to improve environmental quality.

CH